Introduction to the Dodgers’ Pitching Plan

Entering this week’s National League Championship Series, the Dodgers’ pitching plan seemed simple. After Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow started the final two games of the team’s NL Division Series victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, Shohei Ohtani and Blake Snell were next in line for Games 1 and 2 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Initial Pitching Strategy

All the Dodgers needed to do was slot Snell in for Game 1 on Monday, making him an option to pitch again on four days’ rest in Game 5. Then, they could have Ohtani go in Game 2 on Tuesday, allowing him to pitch before Wednesday’s scheduled off-day (which has been the team’s preference for the two-way star) and be available for another start if the series returns to Milwaukee for Games 6 and 7.

Change in Pitching Plan

On Sunday, however, manager Dave Roberts announced a different plan. Snell will indeed go in Game 1, trying to build upon the 1.38 ERA he posted in his first two outings this postseason. But instead of Ohtani in Game 2, it will be Yamamoto who gets the ball — pushing Ohtani’s next pitching appearance to sometime later this series, Roberts said.

Benefits of the New Plan

That alignment came as a surprise, but also had benefits from the Dodgers’ perspective. Unlike Ohtani, who has gotten at least six days off between every one of his pitching outings since the start of July, Yamamoto has routinely pitched on five days’ rest this season. By starting him in Game 2, he can stay on that same schedule to pitch a potential Game 6 — something the Dodgers would have been less comfortable having Ohtani do.

Impact on Ohtani’s Pitching Schedule

By pushing Ohtani back to at least Game 3, of course, the Dodgers will sacrifice their ability to get him two starts in this series. However, even if he pitches in one of the Dodgers’ home games later this week, Ohtani could come out of the bullpen in a potential Game 7 — the kind of relief opportunity the team had hinted at for weeks down the stretch this season.

Considerations for Ohtani’s Next Start

Because Ohtani will make just one pitching start in the NLCS, Roberts said it’s not as imperative that it come before an off-day, either. “You have two other guys that potentially can pitch on regular rest,” Roberts said. “So [it’s about] how do you get your best pitchers the most innings in a potential seven-game series?”

Ohtani’s Offensive Performance

Outside of pitching considerations, however, there’s another reason delaying Ohtani’s next pitching outing could also make sense. In the NLDS, Ohtani went one for 18 at the plate with nine strikeouts. He looked particularly out of sorts in Game 1, when he struck out four times in what was his first career playoff game both hitting and pitching.

Addressing Ohtani’s Slump

Coming out of the series, Roberts emphasized the need for Ohtani to “recalibrate” at the plate, noting that the team was “not gonna win the World Series with that sort of performance” from its biggest star. And while Roberts insisted on Sunday that Ohtani’s offensive slump had “no bearing” on the team shuffling its rotation, giving Ohtani two games at the start of the NLCS to focus solely on hitting certainly won’t hurt his efforts to straighten out his swing.

Conclusion

The Dodgers’ decision to push back Shohei Ohtani’s NLCS pitching start is a strategic move that considers both his pitching schedule and his current offensive performance. By giving him more time to focus on his hitting, the team hopes to see an improvement in his output at the plate. Meanwhile, the new pitching plan allows Yoshinobu Yamamoto to stay on his regular schedule, potentially setting him up for a strong performance in a potential Game 6.

FAQs

• Q: Why did the Dodgers change their pitching plan for the NLCS?
  A: The Dodgers changed their pitching plan to give Yoshinobu Yamamoto a start in Game 2, allowing him to stay on his regular five-day rest schedule, and to push back Shohei Ohtani’s start to give him more time to focus on his hitting.
• Q: How will this affect Ohtani’s pitching schedule?
  A: Ohtani will make only one pitching start in the NLCS, but he could potentially come out of the bullpen in a Game 7.
• Q: What are the Dodgers hoping to achieve by giving Ohtani more time to focus on his hitting?
  A: The Dodgers are hoping to see an improvement in Ohtani’s offensive performance, which was struggling in the NLDS.